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Speaking of Wright, there is a remarkably prophetic passage early in Jesus and the Victory of God where Wright seems to predict the response of some conservatives to his work. Enlightenment thought deployed history as a weapon to critique and dissolve theology (genealogically). Playing off the parable of the prodigal son, he describes the homecoming of history:
The wastrel son, representing the Enlightenment, has rejected traditional Christian orthodoxy, and has set off for the apparently far country of historical scepticism. The elder brother, representing the would-be 'orthodox' Christian who has never troubled much with history and has never abandoned traditional belief, is both angry and suspicious. But supposing the younger brother suddenly comes home again? Supposing Eeven more shocking Ethat there is to be a celebration of his return?
This not only effectively describes the harrumphing from some circles about Wright, but also points to the ambition of his enterprise. He's aiming to contribute to the reconciliation of history and theology, divorced since the Enlightenment (and perhaps before). Such a reunion would mark a turning point in the history of Western thought whose significance is hard to exaggerate. And I cannot imagine a more important location for the reunion cthan in studies of Jesus and the gospels.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Saturday, January 22, 2005 at 05:11 PM
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